I've always thought a typical Splendid reader is, like myself, an individual who loves all kinds of music, and who especially loves to find new material that friends haven't heard yet. If this sounds like you, then you'll probably agree that Sophia Darcell is an amazing find. She is a great new voice on the block, with a wonderful ear for her material. The songs are spare, moving and always emotional, higlighting her voice and the way she makes typical love song lyrics ("Baby don't leave me/Cause I've built my world around you") sound new and convincing.

All of these songs are built around the idea that pain is a constant part of love. They're fused together by a wonderful band that includes Steve Cunningham on guitar and Sophia on keyboards and drum programming. Like Jonathan Butler, Steve has great command over his playing, and a Spanish touch that recalls Joao Gilberto. Despite some typically excellent vocals from Sophia on the beautiful "Mi Corazon", it is Steve's guitar that captures the emotion -- and it is his guitar alone that keeps the final track, "If You Really", from dying before disinterested ears.

Other than those two tracks, Love=Pain is one big showcase for Sophia. Her keyboard playing makes a great argument for every artist to take an economical approach to their instrument; every time she hits a key, the song's emotion seems to intensify. As for her vocals, I have no idea if Darcell can pull off a happy track, but she can sure nail a slow and sad one. Where personal favorites like Regina Belle, Rachelle Ferrell and Oleta Adams occasionally exceed their reach, and entertain a market best fit for ears weaned on hip-hop, Sophia remains entrenched in the arena of slow songs, and her ballads shine in their simplicity. "Back 2 the Way" is as catchy as the latest boy band hits, and her plea for a love to return "to the way it used to be" is quickly echoed by the listener.

Love=Pain is one of those great R&B records from Motown's seventies heyday. As a concept record, it's as successful as Smokey Robinson's Quiet Storm, and its songs will stay with you for some time to come. I have no doubt that a big label will soon pick up this extraordinary talent, and I won't be surprised if I stumble across Love=Pain in K-Mart a few months hence. Don't wait until then, though; I can't imagine the inevitable big money spit and polish improving her debut. Her minimalist set of lovely pain-driven anthems joins recent stellar recordings by Jill Scott and D'Angelo in restoring excitement to contemporary R&B. And for guys, it probably doesn't hurt that Sophia Darcell looks a lot like Jody Watley.